Performers

Abstract of celebrated artistes who appeared at the Kursaal/Royal Hall, Harrogate selected from the collection of bound day-bills at Harrogate reference library and many other sources. Based on an original collation by Malcolm Neesam and now researched and continually updated by Michael Hine.

Performers from 1900s

Date

Artist

1903

1903 27th May

Sir Hubert Parry, composer/conductor Opening Concert

1903 13th July

Edward German, composer

1903 18th July

Mrs. Beerbohm Tree Recitation of “Enoch Arden” with music by Richard Strauss

1st production in Yorkshire of the great American film of Wagner’s opera, Tannhauser, music arranged by Ernest Farrar & Julian Clifford

1915

1915 22nd March

Lecture by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle entitled “The Great Battles of the War”

1915 6th April

Clara Butt

1915 25th May

Lilly Langtry

1915 30th June

Ethel Smyth, composer

1915 24th June

Sir Frederick Cowen with Charles Mott (baritone)

1915 3rd Aug

Daisy Wood – Popular Comedien

1915 5th-6th Aug

Harry Lauder

1915 13th Aug

Horatio Bottomley, publisher of the “John Bull” magazine

1915 27th Aug

Vesta Tilley

1915 28th Aug

Elgar’s “Carillon” performed for Belgium. First Harrogate performance. Mrs Julian Clifford, soprano, assisted by the band of the TTA.

1915 6th Sept

George Robey

1915 17th Sept

Clara Butt – World Famous Contralto

1915 22nd Sept

Further performance of Carillon

1915 25th Sept

Hetty King – Famous Male Impersonator

1915 29th Sept

Beethoven’s Choral Symphony first Harrogate performance which was also the first performance of the Harrogate Municipal Choir, chorus master Ernest Farrar, conducted by Julian Clifford whose “Ode to New Year” was also given.

1916

1916 11th Feb

FILM: Birth of a nation (with augmented orchestra)

1916 17th June

Marie Lloyd – music hall singer

1916 15th Aug

Horatio Bottomley

1916 16th Sept

Mrs. Pankhurst (suffragette)

1916 11th Sept

Solomon – the marvellous boy pianist-1st H’gate performance

1916 4th Nov

Lieut. McCormack – the Irish baritone

1917

1917 10th April

Clara Butt

1917 21st July

Sir Frank Benson, actor

1917 4th Aug

Lena Ashwell, actress

1917 11th Aug

Billy Merson – Celebrated London Comedian

1917 31st Aug-1st Sept

Vesta Tilley

1917 14th-15th Sept

Phyllis Dare

1917 1st Oct

Catlin’s Pierrots

1917 10th Oct

Clara Butt

1917 18th Oct

Horatio Bottomley

1918

1918 18th Feb

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lecture ‘Life After Death’

1918 3rd March

Clara Butt

1918 1st May

Fanny Davies, pianist

1918 20th May

Mark Hambourg

1918 21st May

Wilkie Bard – Popular London Comedian

1918 6th June

Grand Wagner programme

1918 13th June

Felix Salmond, cellist

1918 16th-17th Aug

Vesta Tilley

1918 22nd-23rd Aug

Harry Lauder

1918 2nd Sept

Astra Desmond, soprano & Frank Mullins, tenor Wagner prog

1918 21st Sept

Moiseiwitsch – Comedian

1919

1919 16th May

De Pachman pianist

1919 7th June

Lamond

1919 8th Aug

Dame Nellie Melba

1919 15th-16th Aug

Vesta Tilley – farewell performance

1919 23rd Sept

Sir Ernest Shackleton lecture on “Our Last Antarctic Expedition”

1919 26th & 27th Sept

David Devant – Greatest Magician and Entertainer

1919 3rd Nov

Picture of the year “Blue Jean” (blue overalls) staring Violet Dana

1919 16th Nov

Clara Butt, Kennerly Rumford, massed bands of His Majesty’s Guards

1919 24th Nov

“Cecilea of the pink roses” the new film star, Marion Davies

1919 28th Dec

Melba and Miss Marie Hall violinist

Performers from 1920s

Date

Artist

1920

1920 25th April

Vladmir de Pachman, pianist

1920 30th April

The Rolling Stones, variety act

1920 7th June

Will Gane (with Pierrot Group)

1920 19th-21st Aug

Anna Pavlova

1920 22nd Aug

Tom Burke, famous operatic tenor

1920 28th Aug

Ella Shields, “The Ideal Impersonator”

1920 31st Aug

Dame Nellie Melba

1920 14th Sept

Little Tich

1920 23rd Oct

Harry Tate and Harry Weldon – Comedian

1921

1921 30th April

Also, for 28-30 minutes, “The first public presentation of the latest invention, talking pictures presented by the inventor Claude Verity of East Park Rd Harrrogate – the Verity System”